Cryptocurrency transactional systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A secure cryptocurrency transactional system for actuating transactions involving electronic gaming machines and cryptocurrency wallets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proliferation of mobile devices with Internet capabilities (e.g.,mobile phones, wearable devices) has made it increasingly easy for usersto conduct electronic commerce and online purchases using merchantwebsites and mobile applications. This has also led to an increasedshift away from paper-based monetary schemes (e.g., the exchange ofphysical or paper currency) to instead rely upon electronic systems formonetary exchange. Many electronic payment systems have been developedfor exchanging money, including the use of electronic wallets andelectronic funds transfer (EFT). EFT includes a directdebiting/crediting of a user's bank account at the instance of the userfrom a remote location.

In the context of gaming, such as casino gaming, ticketing systems andchips have replaced the use of physical currency for wagering purposes.Casino customers are not permitted to directly use credit cards anddebit cards for gaming, such as by inserting credit cards in gamingmachines, but rather trade money for credits or chips, either at agaming table or at a gaming machine for example, which can then beredeemed as paper currency after play is completed.

Another type of electronic system for monetary exchange is commonlyreferred to as an electronic peer-to-peer payment system or digitalcurrency system. Bitcoin is one example of a digital currency systemthat utilizes cryptographic techniques, and thus the digital currency isreferred to as cryptocurrency. Although there are many suchcryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) is one of the most well-known and thuswill be discussed herein with reference to Bitcoin as encompassing othercryptocurrencies, as many other cryptocurrencies share similar featuresor derive from the same code base, such as Bitcoin Cash (BCH) andBitcoin SV (BSV). Payments made using the Bitcoin system are recorded ina ledger (the “Block Chain”, which is maintained in parallel by manydifferent entities in the system) using its own unique monetary unit,which is also called a “bitcoin.” The Bitcoin system has no centralrepository and no single administrator, and thus is viewed as adecentralized virtual currency.

One drawback of systems such as Bitcoin is that fraudsters and criminalsmay be able to rely upon the generally anonymous nature of the Bitcoinsystem to avoid detection. Thus, while a person engaging in transactionsinvolving traditional payment forms, such as credit cards and US dollarsis normally identifiable, bitcoins are anonymous and do not typicallyrequire any identification (other than a randomly generated key address)of the party currently owning such bitcoins.

Thus, there is a need for new and enhanced cryptocurrency paymentsystems and methods to create a digital currency system that has greaterefficiency and more security.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses and resolves the aforementioned issues, amongother things.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a method and systemfor enabling secure cryptocurrency transfers in transactions involvingan electronic gaming machine and a user cryptocurrency wallet or“cryptowallet”, the system comprising: a) memory configured to store anamount of credit, the credit being usable to actuate play of a game onthe electronic gaming machine; b) a server in communication with theelectronic gaming machine and a blockchain memory pool, the server beingconfigured to detect a cryptocurrency transaction, the cryptocurrencytransaction being defined by a transaction data communicated by the usercryptocurrency wallet to a blockchain memory pool, the transaction datacomprising an amount of a cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrencytransaction and a user public key, wherein responsive to detecting thetransaction data, the server being further configured to communicatewith the electronic gaming machine whereby an amount of credit is addedto the credit stored in the memory, the amount of credit correspondingto the amount of cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrencytransaction.

In some embodiments, the transaction data further comprises a uniqueidentification associated with the electronic gaming machine, the serverbeing further configured to communicate with the electronic gamingmachine associated with the unique identification.

In some embodiments, the memory resides or is installed in theelectronic gaming machine.

In some embodiments, the server is further configured to compare theuser public key included in the transaction data with a usercryptocurrency wallet public key associated by the server with theelectronic gaming machine, the amount of credit being added to thecredit stored in the memory responsive to the user public key matchingthe user cryptocurrency wallet public key.

In some embodiments, the user and/or user cryptocurrency wallet publickey is associated by the server with the electronic gaming machineresponsive to a user interaction with the electronic gaming machine. Theserver may be further configured to receive the user cryptocurrencywallet public key and an identification of the electronic gaming machineresponsive to the user interaction.

In some embodiments, the user interaction comprises communicating theuser cryptocurrency wallet public key to the server. The usercryptocurrency wallet public key may comprise a user loyalty clubmembership identification. In some embodiments, the user interactioncomprises communicating an identification of the electronic gamingmachine to the server. The user interaction with the electronic gamingmachine may be from a variety of sources such as a user device, wallet,input device on the gaming machine or software application. In someembodiments, the user interaction comprises communicating anidentification of the electronic gaming machine to the server.

In some embodiments, the transaction data further comprises an inputidentification associated with the cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction and an output identification associated withthe cryptocurrency, the server being further configured to use theoutput identification associated with the cryptocurrency as a subsequentinput identification in a subsequent cryptocurrency transactioninvolving the cryptocurrency.

In some embodiments, the server is further configured to generate asubsequent cryptocurrency transaction responsive to a withdrawal requestreceived from the user cryptocurrency wallet, the withdrawal requestcomprising instructions to deduct a withdrawn amount of credit from thememory and return the withdrawn amount of credit to the usercryptocurrency wallet in the form of cryptocurrency, the servercommunicating with the electronic gaming machine to cause the withdrawnamount of credit to be deducted from the credit stored in the memory,the subsequent cryptocurrency transaction being defined by a subsequenttransaction data comprising a return amount of a cryptocurrency and auser cryptocurrency wallet public key associated with the usercryptocurrency wallet, wherein the return amount of cryptocurrencycorresponds to the withdrawn amount of credit.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and systemsfor enabling secure cryptocurrency transfers involving an electronicgaming machine and a user cryptocurrency wallet, comprising: a) memoryconfigured to store an amount of credit, the credit being usable toactuate play of a game on the electronic gaming machine; b) a server incommunication with the electronic gaming machine and a blockchain memorypool, the server being configured to detect a cryptocurrencytransaction, the cryptocurrency transaction being defined by atransaction data communicated by the user cryptocurrency wallet to ablockchain memory pool, the transaction data comprising an amount of acryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrency transaction and a userpublic key, wherein responsive to detecting the transaction data, theserver being further configured to compare the user public key includedin the transaction data with a user cryptocurrency wallet public keyassociated by the server with the electronic gaming machine, andcommunicate a signal to the electronic gaming machine to add an amountof credit to the credit stored in the memory responsive to the userpublic key matching the user cryptocurrency wallet public key, whereinthe amount of credit corresponding to the amount of cryptocurrencyinvolved in the cryptocurrency transaction.

The cryptocurrency transaction may be cryptographically signed by thecryptocurrency wallet or cryptographic key pair.

In some embodiments, the transaction data further comprises an inputidentification associated with the cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction and an output identification associated withthe cryptocurrency.

In some embodiments, the server is further configured to use the outputidentification associated with the cryptocurrency as a subsequent inputidentification in a subsequent cryptocurrency transaction involving thecryptocurrency.

In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the invention furthercomprise the server actuating a subsequent cryptocurrency transactionresponsive to a withdrawal request received from the user cryptocurrencywallet, the server being configured to communicate a signal to theelectronic gaming machine to deduct an amount of credit from the creditstored in the memory and add the amount of credit to the usercryptocurrency wallet associated with the user cryptocurrency walletpublic key, wherein the amount of credit corresponds to the amount ofcryptocurrency involved in the transaction data defining the subsequentcryptocurrency transaction. In some embodiments, the withdrawal requestis received from the user cryptocurrency wallet.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a method and systemfor enabling secure cryptocurrency transfers in transactions involvinggaming devices, comprising: an electronic gaming machine, the electronicgaming machine including a memory configured to store an amount ofcredit, the credit being usable to actuate play of a game on theelectronic gaming machine; a casino backend server in communication witha database and the electronic gaming machine, the database storing userdata including a user cryptocurrency wallet public key; and a userdevice configured to actuate a cryptocurrency transaction, thecryptocurrency transaction being defined by transaction datacommunicated to a blockchain, the transaction data including an amountof a cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrency transaction and auser public key, wherein the casino backend server is configured todetect the transaction data communicated to the blockchain, andresponsive to the user cryptocurrency wallet public key matching theuser public key included in the transaction data, communicate a signalto the electronic gaming machine, the signal causing the addition of anamount of credit to the credit stored in the memory, the amount ofcredit corresponding to the amount of cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction.

In some embodiments, the transaction data further comprises an inputidentification associated with a source of the cryptocurrency involvedin the cryptocurrency transaction and an output identificationassociated with the cryptocurrency transaction. The casino backendserver may be further configured to use the output identificationassociated with the cryptocurrency as a subsequent input identificationin a subsequent cryptocurrency transaction involving the cryptocurrency.

In some embodiments, the casino backend server actuates a subsequentcryptocurrency transaction responsive to a withdrawal request receivedfrom the user device, the withdrawal request comprising instructions todeduct a withdrawn amount of credit from the memory and return thewithdrawn amount of credit to the user cryptocurrency wallet in the formof cryptocurrency, wherein the casino backend server communicates asignal to the electronic gaming machine to deduct the withdrawn amountof credit from the credit stored in the memory and generates asubsequent cryptocurrency transaction defined by a subsequenttransaction data comprising a return amount of a cryptocurrency and theuser cryptocurrency wallet public key, wherein the return amount ofcryptocurrency corresponds to the withdrawn amount of credit.

In some embodiments, the casino backend server associates the userdevice with the electronic gaming machine. The association may involvethe user device or an application, such as a cryptocurrency wallet,connecting with the electronic gaming machine, such as by Bluetoothconnection. The connection may be used to inform the casino backendserver of the electronic gaming machine to be associated with the userhaving the user public key and user cryptocurrency wallet public key,and may further instruct the casino backend server to communicate thesignal to such associated electronic gaming machine.

In some embodiments, the transaction data further comprises a uniqueidentification of the electronic gaming machine. The user device may befurther configured to communicate the unique identification to thecasino backend server. The user cryptocurrency wallet public key maythereafter be associated by the casino backend server with theelectronic gaming machine responsive to the casino backend serverreceiving the unique identification.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for enablingsecure cryptocurrency transfers in transactions involving an electronicgaming machine, the electronic gaming machine including a memoryconfigured to store an amount of credit, the credit being usable toactuate play of a game on the electronic gaming machine, wherein theelectronic gaming machine, the method comprising the steps of: actuatinga cryptocurrency transaction through a user device, the cryptocurrencytransaction being defined by transaction data communicated to ablockchain, the transaction data including an amount of a cryptocurrencyinvolved in the cryptocurrency transaction and a user public key; acasino backend server detecting the transaction data communicated to theblockchain, the casino backend server being in communication with adatabase and the electronic gaming machine, the database storing userdata including a user cryptocurrency wallet public key; and responsiveto the user cryptocurrency wallet public key matching the user publickey included in the transaction data, the casino backend servercommunicating a signal to the electronic gaming machine, the signalcausing an amount of credit to be added to the credit stored in thememory, the amount of credit corresponding to the amount ofcryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrency transaction.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of the userdevice communicating with the electronic gaming machine, whereby thecasino backend server associates with the user device with theelectronic gaming machine. In some embodiments, the transaction dataincludes an identification of the electronic gaming machine, whereby thecasino backend server associates the user or user cryptocurrency walletpublic key with the identified electronic gaming machine.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for enablingand confirming transfers of cryptocurrency from player wallets to gamingwallets for use in a gaming application, the transfer of cryptocurrencybeing transmitted over a global communication network and temporarilystored in a memory pool prior to being recorded in a block on ablockchain, the gaming application being in communication with thememory pool, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a firsttransaction to the memory pool, the first transaction executing thetransfer of cryptocurrency from the player wallet to the gaming wallet,the first transaction including wager data relating to a wager to beplaced in the gaming application, wherein the first transaction isstored in the memory pool in association with one or more firsttransaction input identifiers and a first transaction output identifier;and b) executing a second transaction involving a determination by thegaming application of a wager outcome, the second transaction beingstored in the memory pool in association with one or more secondtransaction input identifiers and a second transaction outputidentifier, wherein the first transaction output identifier is the sameas at least one of the one or more second transaction input identifiers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B provide flow charts illustrating player bettransactions, wherein a player sends a fraudulent transaction;

FIG. 2 is a printout showing an exemplary BSV transaction; and

FIG. 3 provides a high level flow chart illustrating movement of funds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All references to documents contained herein, including any links,incorporates those documents in this application by reference as ifcopied herein.

For purposes of this description, the term “digital currency” may referto units of value that may be used as a form of payment fortransactions, including financial transactions involving gamingoperations, such as transferring digital currency electronically to anelectronic gaming machine, mobile device, kiosk, gaming device, gamingterminal, fixed odds terminal, lottery machine, table game, gamingsystem, online or standalone computerized gaming platform orelectromechanical gaming device (collectively referred to as an “EGM” or“electronic gaming machine” herein), applying the digital currency to aplayer account created in memory on the electronic gaming machine in theform of credits for game play, initiating a game on the electronicgaming machine involving one or more wagers of credits, wherein theoutcome of the game results in a loss of the wagered credits or a win inwhich an amount of credits are added to the credits in a player account.

Digital currency may be a currency that is electronically generated byand stored within one or more devices, such as a user device such as acomputing device, mobile device or smartphone, a casino or centralmanagement system, or an electronic gaming machine. Digital currency maybe purchased using conventional forms of currency (e.g., fiat currency)and generated with a specific value. Typically, the digital currency maynot have a physical form of tender but may be accessible through adevice such as those mentioned above using a software application suchas a digital wallet or mobile application.

The term “cryptocurrency transactional system” may refer to one or moreserver computers that function to operate and maintain a cryptocurrencysystem. The cryptocurrency transactional system may function tofacilitate the generation/issuance and distribution of digital currencybetween the one or more server computers within the cryptocurrencytransactional system. The cryptocurrency transactional system may alsofunction to enable the performance of transactions between the servercomputers for the transfer or wagers, credits, goods/services and/or thetransfer of funds, for example, between a user's mobile device and anelectronic gaming machine.

The term “node” may refer to a computing device within a cryptocurrencysystem. A node in a cryptocurrency system may be associated with and/oroperated by a server computer of an operator or casino, or otherprovider. Each node may have particular rights and restrictionsassociated with the node. For example, an issuer node may have the rightto generate and issue digital currency within a cryptocurrency paymentnetwork, while a distributor node may have the right to distributedigital currency, but not generate or issue digital currency. Othernodes in the cryptocurrency transactional system, such as operators,merchants and users (e.g., consumers or players), may have the right totransfer digital currency. In other embodiments, nodes may bepermissionless and/or operated by others.

A blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) thatconsists of growing list of records, called blocks, that are securelylinked together using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographichash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data (generallyrepresented as a Merkle tree, where data nodes are represented byleaves). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when theblock was created. Since each block contains information about theprevious block, they effectively form a chain (compare linked list datastructure), with each additional block linking to the ones before it.Consequently, blockchain transactions are irreversible in that, oncethey are recorded, the data in any given block cannot be alteredretroactively without altering all subsequent blocks. Blockchains aretypically managed by a peer-to-peer (P2P) computer network for use as apublic distributed ledger, where nodes collectively adhere to aconsensus algorithm protocol to add and validate new transaction blocks.

The term “key” may refer to a piece of data or information used for analgorithm. A key may be a unique piece of data and is typically part ofa key pair where a first key (e.g., a public key) may be used to encrypta message, while a second key (e.g., a private key) may be used todecrypt that encrypted message. The key may be a numeric or alphanumericvalue and may be generated using an algorithm. A system server computerin a cryptocurrency transactional system of the invention may generateand assign a unique key pair for each node in the system. In someembodiments, a key may refer to either a node verification key pair or atransaction key pair.

A transaction key pair may include a transaction public key and atransaction private key. The transaction key pair may be used by thenodes and/or payment entities to conduct transactions in thecryptocurrency transactional system. The transaction key pair may begenerated by a system server computer or may be generated by an operatorserver computer for a customer or player when a player account with theoperator server computer is created. Individual participants or playerscan also generate their own key pairs for the system. In thisembodiment, the individual participant would keep their private key asecret and keep it from being revealed to others. The transaction publickey of a node may be distributed throughout the system in order to allowfor authentication of payment transaction messages signed using theprivate key of the node.

A node verification key pair may include a node verification public keyand a node verification private key. The node verification key pair maybe used by the nodes and the system of the invention to verify that anode is an issuer node or a distributor node. The node verification keypair may be generated by a system server computer in response to arequest message from a node to be designated an issuer node or adistributor node in the system. In other embodiments, the nodeverification key pair may be generated by a node (e.g., an operatorserver computer) and sent to the system server computer. In someembodiments, a node verification public key may be functionally similarto a transaction public key. However, the node verification public keymay only be distributed to the node associated with the nodeverification public key. In such embodiments, the node verificationpublic key may be encrypted prior to being sent to the appropriate node.

Embodiments of the invention may utilize one or more system servercomputers to determine and designate issuer nodes, which have the rightto generate and issue digital currency, and distributor nodes, whichhave the right to distribute digital currency but not issue digitalcurrency. Transactions performed through the cryptocurrencytransactional system using the digital currency can be tracked andmaintained in a ledger of transactions maintained by the issuer nodesand the distributor nodes. A cryptocurrency wallet in some embodimentsmay comprise a device, program or service configured to storecryptocurrency, and public and private keys used in transactionsinvolving cryptocurrency, as well as provide other functionality, suchas encrypting and signing information.

Embodiments of the cryptocurrency transactional system of the inventionare directed to various general and specific enhancements and improvedsecurity features such as those discussed herein. For example, a featurecan be implemented to prevent “double spend” on a blockchain.

Feature 1—Preventing Double Spend on a Blockchain Background andDefinition of a Blockchain Transaction and Inputs and Outputs

A transaction of cryptocurrency, such as in the Bitcoin network as anexample, describes the transfer of a specific amount of digital currencyfrom one account to another. Transactions are represented as signed datastructures that are broadcast into the blockchain and recorded by allnodes in the network. It is comprised of references to one or moreprevious transactions that funded the spending party and an assignmentof a specific amount of digital currency to one or more addresses. Atransaction is atomic in the sense that this digital currency from theprevious transactions is inseparably linked to the transfer of thisdigital currency to the receiving account.

In a blockchain that supports the UTXO model, such as Bitcoin, atransaction consists of inputs and outputs. The references to previoustransactions are referred to as inputs to the transaction, whereas theaccount and the amount of digital currency that it ought to receive arecalled outputs. After the transfer, the owner of the receiving accounthas new funds at her disposal to spend in future transactions. Thebalance of an account is the sum of the values of all unspent outputsowned by that account.

Other blockchains that are EVM (Ethereum virtual machine) compatible usean account-based model which represents assets as balances withinaccounts. Deploying a smart contract leads to the creation of acode-controlled account. Smart contracts can hold funds themselves,which they can redistribute according to the conditions defined in thecontract logic. Every account in EVM compatible blockchain has abalance, storage, and code-space for calling other accounts oraddresses.

Double Spending with a Cryptocurrency

Double spending is the risk that a digital currency can be spent twice.Double-spending is a potential problem unique to digital currenciesbecause digital information can be reproduced relatively easily.Physical currencies do not have this issue because they cannot be easilyreplicated, and the parties involved in a transaction can immediatelyverify the bona fides of the physical currency. With digital currency,there is a risk that the holder could make a copy of the digital tokenand send it to a merchant or another party while retaining the original.

More specifically, double spending a cryptocurrency is accomplished bycreating two transactions and broadcasting those two transactions todifferent nodes on the network at the same time. Both transactions haveexactly the same inputs but the transactions have separate outputs. Theoutput of the first transaction typically sends the crypto to a walletowned by the double spender. The second transaction output typicallysends the output to the party the double spender wishes to fool. Thedouble spender is hoping that the receiving party he wishes to fool seesthe transaction as valid and the double spender receives something backof value before the miners notify the targeted party the transaction wasinvalid.

Standard Protection Against Double Spending

Bitcoin has a mechanism that verifies all of the transactions going intoa block to verify that the same digital token isn't being spent in othertransactions. More specifically, each transaction input is checkedagainst the entire blockchain to ensure that the same input has NOTalready been used in a different transaction. Bitcoin therefore onlyguarantees confirmation of a transaction once it has been accepted bythe majority of participating nodes and hashed into the blockchain.

Even after the transaction has been in 1 block there is a chance that atransaction containing the fraudulent double spend could be propagatingaround more of the blockchain nodes than the initial transaction (forexample the one sent to a merchant), so it is common for a merchant towait for 4-6 blocks to be mined before trusting a payment, to verifythat the transaction sent to their crypto wallet is valid and trusted.This can mean waiting for upwards of 1 hour before trusting the payment.

Prior Solutions

Three whitepapers for solutions to the double spending problemincorporated herein by reference include:

“Have a Snack, Pay with Bitcoins”Summary: the proposal does not fully prevent a double spend. It requiresthat a merchant's software connect to a large random sample of nodes inthe Bitcoin network and follow other specific rules to make it harderfor the attacker to successfully submit their fraudulent transaction andhave it trump the valid transaction being used to pay the merchant;

“Countering Double-Spend Attacks on Bitcoin Fast-Pay Transactions”

Summary: requires additional server software called “enhanced observers”to be running and to send alerts to the mining nodes. Requires updatedblockchain node software that the miners must agree to run to react tothese alerts; and“Double-spending Prevention for Bitcoin zero-confirmation transactions”Summary: requires changes to the Bitcoin protocol which would requireall of the miners of that blockchain to agree to the change to updatetheir blockchain node softwareDrawbacks with Existing Solutions

The “out of the box” solution for most blockchains as mentioned above inthe “Standard Protection Against Double Spending” section requireswaiting for multiple transactions to be mined into a block. On averageit takes a block 10 minutes to be mined, though the variance can be veryhigh, ranging from ˜1 second to 2 hours.

The inventors mentioned drawbacks for each of the whitepaper solutionsin the above section. There are likely several other double spendsolutions out there that I haven't found. Most of the solutions that wehave seen discussed on the internet require waiting for some period oftime before considering a transaction as being valid (however thesesolutions do not required waiting for a transaction to get mined into ablock). The solutions require waiting for the transaction to propagatearound to multiple Bitcoin nodes in the mempool, which is essentially anin-memory list of transactions waiting to be put into blocks. The longerthat you wait, the more secure a transaction is because it is beingpropagated to other nodes globally, and each mining node will ignore atransaction if it detects that the same input is being used for someother transaction.

Note: when you see reference to “zero confirmations” that means beingable to consider a transaction valid once it reaches the Bitcoin nodesmempool, before the time it takes to actually mine it into a block.

Further Definition of the Bitcoin Mempool

Transactions are broadcast to nodes on the Bitcoin network. Thetransaction typically reaches the node that is closest to the sender andis included in a list of unconfirmed transactions called the mempool.Miners have the ability to include transactions in new blocks they aremining or to leave these transactions in the mempool. Typicallytransactions with higher included fees will be included first.Transactions with very low included fees can persist in the mempool andmay not be processed for days or weeks. There are multiple ways that atransaction leaves the mempool on a Bitcoin node:

1. The transaction was included in a block2. The transaction or one of its unconfirmed ancestors conflicts with atransaction that was included in a block3. The transaction was replaced by a newer version (this is the “replaceby fee” feature is only relevant to BTC)4. The transaction expired by timeout

Exemplary Solutions Provided by the Invention

Embodiments of the invention provide a solution that guarantees theprevention of a double spend instantaneously. The exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein involve the placement of a bet in gaming, but that isjust one application of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1A, which shows the various transactions that areinvolved in the gaming use case to place a bet, process the bet, andreturn the bet results and any winnings back to the player.

Transaction #1 is the player submitting a bet. Note that input 7282 for0.5 BSV is combined with another input 8912, also for 0.5 BSV. Theseinputs originate from 2 unspent outputs from prior transactions that theplayer's wallet has received. These two inputs total 1 BSV, which is theamount that the player wants to bet. The two inputs are combined into anew single output 5555 to send to the blockchain. This new output alsocontains the data for what specific bet the player is making. The twoinputs are noted, at least because the blockchain is a simple ledgerwithout the power or logic to compute values. Hence there is no way thechain itself can add input 7282 (0.5 BSV) and input 8912 (0.5 BSV)together. The sender has to include both input balances in a transactionto create output 5555 (1.0 BSV).

The Game Server sees this bet transaction show up in the blockchainmempool and immediately processes it and determines if the player haswon or lost the bet. This transaction uses the players bet output 5555as a new input to send the player the bet results and payout (if theplayer won the bet). There may be other inputs included, especially ifthe player has won, since the player will get payouts in excess ofwhatever amount was bet. The player wallet and gaming app then sees thisnew blockchain transaction and shows the win or loss results in thegame.

Transaction #3 is the player's fraudulent transaction during theirdouble spend attack. The player is attempting to place a bet (and win)with the casino and at the same time is also sending that same 1 BSVcryptocurrency back to themselves, for example to another wallet addressthat they own. It should be noted that the player is trying to use thesame inputs 7282 and 8912 to send a total of 1 BSV.

The blockchain nodes are eventually going to determine that eitherTransaction 1 or Transaction 3 is valid, but not both, since bothtransactions are using the same inputs. Exemplary unique features of theinvention include using the players bet output (5555) as input whenresponding back to the player. This ensures that if the player were toattempt a double spend to send himself back the same crypto used toplace the bet (i.e., reusing inputs 7282 and 8912), and the fraudulenttransaction (#4) were to be the one accepted by the blockchain, then thebet transaction would not be accepted by the miners.

This is because the miners would analyze the transaction's chain ofoutputs back to their associated inputs, back to their associatedoutputs, and so on, all the way back as far as that chain goes. It wouldbe determined that one or more of the inputs were already used inanother transaction. The miners would then drop the transaction from themempool.

Subsequently the bet result transaction would also be seen as an invalidtransaction and ignored by the miners. The player would not receive anypayout. This prevents a double spend attack from being beneficial to theattacker/player and avoids any loss of revenue by the casino.

Other Uses Cases Other than Placing a BetBuying a token with the blockchain's native currency.

For example, in other embodiments custom token protocols are used as away to create tokens on the a blockchain. Tokens are similar to a casinochip in gaming. We can pin a token to a fiat currency to protect thecasino from native cryptocurrency fluctuation, like the price in USDrising and falling for 1 BSV.

The Double Spend feature of the invention protects us for this use casein the same way as placing a bet. Assume that a user tries to purchasetokens from us or one of our casino partners and they attempt to doublespend the BSV they send us and the fraudulent transaction is the oneaccepted by the Bitcoin network. For that case the tokens that theyreceived from us will become invalid as soon as the miners invalidatethe transaction that the user created to purchase our tokens. Thetransaction will be invalid because the player's output is used as aninput in the transaction to send the user the tokens. The transactionwill be invalid because the player's output is used as an input in thetransaction to send the user tokens as shown in FIG. 1B. The output ofBSV to the player is 0.000001 BSV. It should be understood that this isan example, as the exact amount can be any negligible amount (that is,what is referred to as a “dust” transaction, which is so small to notmatter financially but sufficient for miners to detect an issue).

Exemplary Use Case—BSV

BTC has a “replace by fee” feature (RBF) that allows an unconfirmedtransaction to be replaced with another transaction that has a higherfee, and miners will prioritize transactions that have higher fees.Transactions can be marked as non-RBF, but then there's also the risk oftransactions not being confirmed for days or weeks.

All three forks (BTC, BSV, BCH) also have the drawback in that there isa maximum of 25 (or 50, just for BSV) chained unconfirmed transactions.There is a plan to remove this limit in BSV; we're not sure about BCH orBTC. Until this restriction is removed for a particular blockchain, attimes we may not be able to use our solution on that blockchain (set theplayers bet output transaction as an input to the bet responsetransaction) because it's already been chained too many times. It shouldbe understood that twenty-five bets equals fifty transactions because ifa bet involves a response from the casino.

The player could attempt the double spend after he receives a lossresponse in an attempt to undo the bet. However since this requires thebet to propagate through the network sufficiently for the game server tohave received it and for the response to also have been sufficientlypropagated for the player to have seen it, it should be too late tosuccessfully submit the double spend transaction.

BSV Transaction Example

The following real BSV transaction is a good visual on how inputs andoutputs are used for sending someone crypto. See FIG. 2 for example.

The wallet sending crypto only has a large input of 72.34 BSV to use tosend someone 0.162836 BSV. The large input is used, and the specificamount being sent to the other party is the first output, and the secondoutput is the change that gets returned back to the sender's wallet.

Another feature of the system of the invention relates to payingBlockchain transaction fees as discussed below.

Feature #2: Paying Blockchain Transaction Fees on Behalf of the Player

Embodiments of the invention can be configured to pay the BSV miningfees for the players gambling on using the transactional system.

An exemplary method of performing such an embodiment may generallycomprise the following steps:

-   -   1. The player requests for and receives an output from a service        sufficient to pay for the transaction;    -   2. The player adds his own outputs to create a transaction. The        player signs the transaction with his private key and sends it        back to the service; and    -   3. The service adds a signature for the original output with its        private key to form a complete transaction and the service then        transmits the transaction to the blockchain.

Another feature of the system of the invention relates to including betdata in a public blockchain transaction as discussed below.

The system will include game servers, for example a Baccarat game serverthat will monitor for new transactions being added to the blockchain. Itwill recognize transactions that are being sent to the game server'saddress and that there is bet data within the transaction. The gameserver will read the bet data and then produce RNG and determine if thebet is won or lost. It will then create a new transaction with betresults and any payout for the user and submit to the blockchain. Thebet data will be thus added to a public blockchain.

Another feature of the system of the invention relates to connecting acrypto wallet to a player loyalty account as discussed herein and asdepicted in FIG. 3 . While the invention is discussed in connectiongaming machines, it should be understood that the invention includessystems and methods for routing cryptocurrency in transactions at otherplatforms, including tables games, kiosks and terminals. For example, adevice may be installed at a table game wherein the device receivescryptocurrency which is then converted to gaming chips. A dealer orcasino staff may print a receipt of the transaction which can be usedfor accounting and reconciliation purposes, that is, the receipt showsthe table as having received an amount in cryptocurrency in the same wayfiat currency is collected. It should be understood that receivingcurrency, whether expressed as dollars, credit or cryptocurrency as usedherein, may be interchanged, in that a transaction may be completed withan offsite wallet and notification of the transaction may be transmittedto an EGM or another communication device associated with a managementsystem that is configured to effectuate the addition of credits to theEGM pursuant to the completed transaction. Thus, no cryptocurrency isever transmitted to the EGM. The term receiving may therefore refer tothe completion of a transaction involving a receiving party, rather thanany particular device which houses or stores a wallet. For example,receiving cryptocurrency includes receiving cryptocurrency at acryptocurrency wallet at the EGM or receiving notification of acryptocurrency transaction being executed with a cryptocurrency walletresiding at a different location or different device or system whichthen results in credit for play of the EGM being added to the EGM.

In a separate embodiment the player sends the cryptocurrency to a casinowallet that is not located in or on the EGM. The cryptocurrency walletinvolved in the transaction which receives the cryptocurrency may residein a specially configured computer system inside or outside of a casino.The EGM may either monitor for transactions (such as by identifying aplayer or the player identifying the EGM) or otherwise be notified of asuccessful cryptocurrency transaction that was sent to the casinowallet, wherever the location, and add a corresponding amount of creditprovided that the owner of the cryptocurrency who initiated thetransactions has satisfied any identification requirements.

A player can connect the cryptocurrency wallet of the invention to theircasino player loyalty account and then send and remove credits from anEGM. Although there may be other transactions a casino player may beinvolved in, the exemplary method described below is directed tocryptocurrency transactions that result in credits being sent, addedand/or removed from an EGM.

Exemplary Solution:

-   -   1. Player downloads our crypto wallet to phone. Wallet is        typical crypto type that uses public key encryption. The Player        generates a public/private key pair.    -   2. Player associates the public key of their crypto wallet with        their unique player loyalty ID in the operator or solution        provider mobile app. The Casino could also make this association        using their software. In either case the end result is that        there is an association of player loyalty ID and player        cryptocurrency wallet public key in the casino's backend        database.    -   3. Player inserts loyalty card into EGM and the EGM ID is then        associated to the player loyalty ID (and player public key) in        the backend database. The EGM could also have a QR or barcode        scanner that would scan a player's wallet's public key. The key        could be represented with a QR code or barcode displayed on a        mobile device, or alternatively, Bluetooth, NFC or facial        recognition could be used.    -   4. Casino backend notifies the player wallet which EGM the        player is located at    -   5. Player opens mobile app and is able to select deposit or        withdraw from within the app    -   6. This player to EGM association or mapping may be stored on a        server or blockchain.

Exemplary Deposit to EGM Method:

-   -   1. Player chooses the amount of credits they'd like to deposit        in the app and clicks the send button    -   2. At this point the wallet creates a transaction and digitally        signs it with the private key. The recipient of the transaction        is the casino that owns the EGM.    -   3. Transaction is broadcast to the blockchain and casino wallet        receives the credits    -   4. Note that the transaction includes the public key of the        sender. The casino therefore matches the sender's public key to        the player loyalty ID.    -   5. The casino backend identifies the EGM that the player is        located at by looking up the EGM ID from the public key value of        the player's wallet or the player's loyalty ID that made the        deposit request.    -   6. Casino backend send amount of credits received to that        particular EGM that the player is sitting at (for example via a        SAS protocol network call)

7. The balance is updated on the EGM

Exemplary Withdraw from EGM Method:

-   -   1. Player uses the mobile app and chooses the amount of credits        to cash out of the EGM that they are currently playing at. It        can be all or just a portion of the current credits balance at        the EGM, meaning that the player could leave some credits on the        EGM and cash those credits out with a ticket if so desired. In        some embodiments, the player can use the EGM or other        communication means to send a message to the casino service to        request a withdrawal transaction.    -   2. Player wallet creates and signs a transaction to request an        amount of credits to withdraw. This transaction is a dust        transaction with the minimum amount of cryptocurrency needed to        have the blockchain accept the transaction. That transaction is        broadcast to the blockchain. A service running with the casino        datacenter is watching the blockchain. It then identifies the        command sent to its public key. The blockchain is used as a        messaging bus to send commands to other components in the        system. In a separate embodiment, the player wallet can send a        message to the casino service using standard communication        protocols to request a withdrawal transaction from a particular        EGM without the use of a message sent over a blockchain.    -   3. After receiving the withdrawal request, the casino service        identifies the EGM that the player is located at by looking up        the EGM ID from the public key value of the wallet that made the        withdraw request.    -   4. The casino service then communicates or “calls” the software        of the invention running on the EGM that the player is located        at to invoke the withdraw action (for example via a SAS protocol        network call)    -   5. The casino service creates and signs a transaction to send        credits from the casino hot wallet to the player's wallet. This        transaction is sent to the blockchain.    -   6. Player receives credits on the mobile wallet, removes player        card and may walk away as the transaction is completed.

In some embodiments, the casino backend or central management system isactively maintaining a mapping of each loyalty card and the EGM that theloyalty card is inserted into.

In some embodiments, the invention replaces the player loyalty card witha cryptocurrency wallet public key as the player ID. In someembodiments, an additional piece of hardware is installed or repurposedon the EGM to be able to securely read the public key of the customer'smobile device. For example, in some embodiments an EGM card reader isreplaced with a QR/bar code scanner. The scanner is able to securelyread a QR code displayed by the crypto wallet via the mobile devicedisplay to establish a link the EGM to the customer's public key of hiscrypto wallet. In other embodiments, the association of cryptocurrencywallet to EGM is created via one or more of a QR code on the displaydevice of the EGM, Bluetooth beacons, entering a code or password intothe EGM, or identifying the EGM in the wallet through the customer'smobile device, or through NFC tags on the EGM used to identify the EGM.

The various participants and elements described herein may operate oneor more computer apparatuses to facilitate the functions describedherein. Any of the elements in the figures, including any servers ordatabases, may use any suitable number of subsystems to facilitate thefunctions described herein.

Some embodiments also relate to an apparatus for performing theoperations herein. Such an apparatus may be specially constructed forthe purposes, e.g., a specific computer, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by acomputer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as, but is notlimited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks,CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), randomaccess memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards,application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any type of mediasuitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to acomputer system bus. Memory can include any of the above and/or otherdevices that can store information/data/programs and can be a transientor non-transient medium, where a non-transient or non-transitory mediumcan include memory/storage that stores information for more than aminimal duration. Furthermore, the computers referred to in thespecification may include a single processor or may be architecturesemploying multiple processor designs for increased computing capability.

Various general-purpose systems may also be used with programs inaccordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient toconstruct more specialized apparatus to perform the method steps. Thestructure for a variety of these systems will appear from thedescription herein. In addition, the embodiments are not described withreference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciatedthat a variety of programming languages may be used to implement theteachings of the embodiments as described herein, and any referencesherein to specific languages are provided for the purposes of enablementand best mode.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the types of software andhardware used are not vital to the full implementation of the methods ofthe invention. The order of execution or performance of the operationsin the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein isnot essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operationsdescribed herein may be performed in any order, unless otherwisespecified, and embodiments of the invention may include additional orfewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it iscontemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before,contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scopeof aspects of the invention.

While exemplary systems and methods, and applications of methods of theinvention, have been described herein, it should also be understood thatthe foregoing is only illustrative of a few particular embodiments withexemplary and/or preferred features, as well as principles of theinvention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Additional information regarding exemplary embodiments of the inventionis provided below.

Computer Program

In some embodiments, the methods, systems, and media disclosed hereininclude at least one computer program, or use of the same. A computerprogram includes a sequence of instructions, executable in the digitalprocessing device's CPU, written to perform a specified task. Computerreadable instructions may be implemented as program modules, such asfunctions, objects, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), datastructures, and the like, that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types. In light of the disclosure providedherein, those of skill in the art will recognize that a computer programmay be written in various versions of various languages.

The functionality of the computer readable instructions may be combinedor distributed as desired in various environments. In some embodiments,a computer program comprises one sequence of instructions. In someembodiments, a computer program comprises a plurality of sequences ofinstructions. In some embodiments, a computer program is provided fromone location. In other embodiments, a computer program is provided froma plurality of locations. In various embodiments, a computer programincludes one or more software modules. In various embodiments, acomputer program includes, in part or in whole, one or more webapplications, one or more mobile applications, one or more standaloneapplications, one or more web browser plug-ins, extensions, add-ins, oradd-ons, or combinations thereof.

Web Application

In some embodiments, a computer program includes a web application. Inlight of the disclosure provided herein, those of skill in the art willrecognize that a web application, in various embodiments, utilizes oneor more software frameworks and one or more database systems. In someembodiments, a web application is created upon a software framework suchas Microsoft® .NET or Ruby on Rails (RoR). In some embodiments, a webapplication utilizes one or more database systems including, by way ofnon-limiting examples, relational, non-relational, object oriented,associative, and XML database systems. In further embodiments, suitablerelational database systems include, by way of non-limiting examples,Microsoft® SQL Server, mySQL™ and Oracle®. Those of skill in the artwill also recognize that a web application, in various embodiments, iswritten in one or more versions of one or more languages. A webapplication may be written in one or more markup languages, presentationdefinition languages, client-side scripting languages, server-sidecoding languages, database query languages, or combinations thereof. Insome embodiments, a web application is written to some extent in amarkup language such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), ExtensibleHypertext Markup Language (XHTML), or eXtensible Markup Language (XML).In some embodiments, a web application is written to some extent in apresentation definition language such as Cascading Style Sheets (CS S).In some embodiments, a web application is written to some extent in aclient-side scripting language such as Asynchronous Javascript and XML(AJAX), Flash® Actionscript, Javascript, or Silverlight®. In someembodiments, a web application is written to some extent in aserver-side coding language such as Active Server Pages (ASP),ColdFusion, Perl, Java™, JavaServer Pages (JSP), Hypertext Preprocessor(PHP), Python™, Ruby, Tcl, Smalltalk, WebDNA®, or Groovy. In someembodiments, a web application is written to some extent in a databasequery language such as Structured Query Language (SQL). In someembodiments, a web application integrates enterprise server productssuch as IBM® Lotus Domino®. In some embodiments, a web applicationincludes a media player element. In various further embodiments, a mediaplayer element utilizes one or more of many suitable multimediatechnologies including, by way of non-limiting examples, Adobe® Flash®,HTML 5, Apple® QuickTime®, Microsoft® Silverlight®, Java™, and Unity®.

Mobile Application

In some embodiments, a computer program includes a mobile applicationprovided to a mobile digital processing device. In some embodiments, themobile application is provided to a mobile digital processing device atthe time it is manufactured. In other embodiments, the mobileapplication is provided to a mobile digital processing device via thecomputer network described herein.

In view of the disclosure provided herein, a mobile application iscreated by techniques known to those of skill in the art using hardware,languages, and development environments known to the art. Those of skillin the art will recognize that mobile applications are written inseveral languages. Suitable programming languages include, by way ofnon-limiting examples, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java™, Javascript,Pascal, Object Pascal, Python™, Ruby, VB.NET, WML, and XHTML/HTML withor without CSS, or combinations thereof.

Suitable mobile application development environments are available fromseveral sources. Commercially available development environmentsinclude, by way of non-limiting examples, AirplaySDK, alcheMo,Appcelerator, Celsius, Bedrock, Flash Lite, .NET Compact Framework,Rhomobile, and WorkLight Mobile Platform. Other development environmentsare available without cost including, by way of non-limiting examples,Lazarus, MobiFlex, MoSync, and Phonegap. Also, mobile devicemanufacturers distribute software developer kits including, by way ofnon-limiting examples, iPhone and iPad (iOS) SDK, Android™ SDK,BlackBerry® SDK, BREW SDK, Palm® OS SDK, Symbian SDK, webOS SDK, andWindows® Mobile SDK.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that several commercial forumsare available for distribution of mobile applications including, by wayof non-limiting examples, Apple® App Store, Android™ Market, BlackBerry®App World, App Store for Palm devices, App Catalog for webOS, Windows®Marketplace for Mobile, Ovi Store for Nokia® devices, Samsung® Apps, andNintendo® DSi Shop.

Standalone Application

In some embodiments, a computer program includes a standaloneapplication, which is a program that is run as an independent computerprocess, not an add-on to an existing process, e.g., not a plug-in.Those of skill in the art will recognize that standalone applicationsare often compiled. A compiler is a computer program(s) that transformssource code written in a programming language into binary object codesuch as assembly language or machine code. Suitable compiled programminglanguages include, by way of non-limiting examples, C, C++, Objective-C,COBOL, Delphi, Eiffel, Java™, Lisp, Python™, Visual Basic, and VB .NET,or combinations thereof. Compilation is often performed, at least inpart, to create an executable program. In some embodiments, a computerprogram includes one or more executable complied applications.

Software Modules

In some embodiments, the methods, systems, and media disclosed hereininclude software, server, and/or database modules, or use of the same.In view of the disclosure provided herein, software modules are createdby techniques known to those of skill in the art using machines,software, and languages known to the art. The software modules disclosedherein are implemented in a multitude of ways. In various embodiments, asoftware module comprises a file, a section of code, a programmingobject, a programming structure, or combinations thereof. In furthervarious embodiments, a software module comprises a plurality of files, aplurality of sections of code, a plurality of programming objects, aplurality of programming structures, or combinations thereof. In variousembodiments, the one or more software modules comprise, by way ofnon-limiting examples, a web application, a mobile application, and astandalone application. In some embodiments, software modules are in onecomputer program or application. In other embodiments, software modulesare in more than one computer program or application. In someembodiments, software modules are hosted on one machine. In otherembodiments, software modules are hosted on more than one machine. Infurther embodiments, software modules are hosted on cloud computingplatforms. In some embodiments, software modules are hosted on one ormore machines in one location. In other embodiments, software modulesare hosted on one or more machines in more than one location.

Databases

In some embodiments, the methods, systems, and media disclosed hereininclude one or more databases, or use of the same. In view of thedisclosure provided herein, those of skill in the art will recognizethat many databases are suitable for storage and retrieval of player andgame information. In various embodiments, suitable databases include, byway of non-limiting examples, relational databases, non-relationaldatabases, object oriented databases, object databases,entity-relationship model databases, associative databases, and XMLdatabases. In some embodiments, a database is internet-based. In furtherembodiments, a database is web-based.

In still further embodiments, a database is cloud computing-based. Inother embodiments, a database is based on one or more local computerstorage devices.

General Information Relating to Various Embodiments of the Invention

A controller, computing device, or computer, such as described herein,may include at least one or more processors or processing units and asystem memory. The controller typically also includes at least some formof computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation,computer readable media may include computer storage media andcommunication media. Computer storage media may include volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology that enables storage of information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includeany information delivery media. Those skilled in the art should befamiliar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included withinthe scope of computer readable media.

In some embodiments, a controller may include a processor, which asdescribed herein, includes any programmable system including systems andmicrocontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits (RISC), applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic circuits (PLC),and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functionsdescribed herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus arenot intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of theterm processor.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in theembodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is notessential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations describedherein may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, andembodiments of the invention may include additional or fewer operationsthan those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated thatexecuting or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneouslywith, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of theinvention.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention andalso to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention,including making and using any devices or systems and performing anyincorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is definedby the claims, and may include other examples that occur to thoseskilled in the art. Other aspects and features of the invention can beobtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appendedclaims. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed within the scope of the appended claims. It should also benoted, that the steps and/or functions listed within the appendedclaims, notwithstanding the order of which steps and/or functions arelisted therein, are not limited to any specific order of operation.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the systems andmethods described herein may be a standalone system, gaming device,gaming machine or incorporated in an existing gaming system or machine.The gaming machine of the invention may include various computer andnetwork related software and hardware, such as programs, operatingsystems, memory storage devices, data input/output devices, dataprocessors, servers with links to data communication systems, wirelessor otherwise, and data transceiving terminals. It should also beunderstood that any method steps discussed herein, such as for example,steps involving the receiving or displaying of data, may further includeor involve the transmission, receipt and processing of data throughconventional hardware and/or software technology to effectuate the stepsas described herein. Those skilled in the art will further appreciatethat the precise types of software and hardware used are not vital tothe full implementation of the methods of the invention so long asplayers and operators thereof are provided with useful access thereto,either through a mobile device, gaming platform, or other computingplatform via a local network or global telecommunication network.

Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention maybe shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenienceonly. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature ofa drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with anyfeature of any other drawing.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the apparatusdescribed herein may include various computer and network relatedsoftware and hardware, such as programs, operating systems, memorystorage devices, data input/output devices, data processors, serverswith links to data communication systems, wireless or otherwise, anddata transceiving terminals. Those skilled in the art will furtherappreciate that the precise types of software and hardware used are notvital to the full implementation of the apparatus of the invention solong as it performs as described in at least one of the embodimentsherein.

While exemplary apparatus, systems and methods of the invention havebeen described herein, it should also be understood that the foregoingis only illustrative of a few particular embodiments with exemplaryand/or preferred features, as well as principles of the invention, andthat various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore,the described embodiments should not be considered as limiting of thescope of the invention in any way. Accordingly, the invention embracesalternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth herein, in the claims and anyequivalents thereto.

1. A system for enabling secure cryptocurrency transfers in transactionsinvolving an electronic gaming machine and a user cryptocurrency wallet,the system comprising: a) memory configured to store an amount ofcredit, the credit being usable to actuate play of a game on theelectronic gaming machine; b) a server in communication with theelectronic gaming machine and a blockchain memory pool, the server beingconfigured to detect a cryptocurrency transaction, the cryptocurrencytransaction being defined by a transaction data communicated by the usercryptocurrency wallet to a blockchain memory pool, the transaction datacomprising an amount of a cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrencytransaction and a user public key, wherein responsive to detecting thetransaction data, the server being further configured to communicatewith the electronic gaming machine whereby an amount of credit is addedto the credit stored in the memory, the amount of credit correspondingto the amount of cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrencytransaction.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein thetransaction data further comprises a unique identification associatedwith the electronic gaming machine, the server being further configuredto communicate with the electronic gaming machine associated with theunique identification.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein thememory resides in the electronic gaming machine.
 4. The system asrecited in claim 1, further comprising the server being configured tocompare the user public key included in the transaction data with a usercryptocurrency wallet public key associated by the server with theelectronic gaming machine, the amount of credit being added to thecredit stored in the memory responsive to the user public key matchingthe user cryptocurrency wallet public key.
 5. The system as recited inclaim 4, wherein the user cryptocurrency wallet public key is associatedby the server with the electronic gaming machine responsive to a userinteraction with the electronic gaming machine.
 6. The system as recitedin claim 5, wherein the user interaction comprises communicating theuser cryptocurrency wallet public key to the server.
 7. The system asrecited in claim 5, wherein the user interaction comprises communicatingan identification of the electronic gaming machine to the server.
 8. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the transaction data furthercomprises an input identification associated with the cryptocurrencyinvolved in the cryptocurrency transaction and an output identificationassociated with the cryptocurrency, the server being further configuredto use the output identification associated with the cryptocurrency as asubsequent input identification in a subsequent cryptocurrencytransaction involving the cryptocurrency.
 9. The system as recited inclaim 1, further comprising the server being configured to generate asubsequent cryptocurrency transaction responsive to a withdrawal requestreceived from the user cryptocurrency wallet, the withdrawal requestcomprising instructions to deduct a withdrawn amount of credit from thememory and return the withdrawn amount of credit to the usercryptocurrency wallet in the form of cryptocurrency, the servercommunicating with the electronic gaming machine to cause the withdrawnamount of credit to be deducted from the credit stored in the memory,the subsequent cryptocurrency transaction being defined by a subsequenttransaction data comprising a return amount of a cryptocurrency and auser cryptocurrency wallet public key associated with the usercryptocurrency wallet, wherein the return amount of cryptocurrencycorresponds to the withdrawn amount of credit.
 10. A system for enablingsecure cryptocurrency transfers in transactions involving gamingdevices, the system comprising: an electronic gaming machine, theelectronic gaming machine including a memory configured to store anamount of credit, the credit being usable to actuate play of a game onthe electronic gaming machine; a casino backend server in communicationwith a database and the electronic gaming machine, the database storinguser data including a user cryptocurrency wallet public key; and a userdevice configured to actuate a cryptocurrency transaction, thecryptocurrency transaction being defined by transaction datacommunicated to a blockchain, the transaction data including an amountof a cryptocurrency involved in the cryptocurrency transaction and auser public key, wherein the casino backend server is configured todetect the transaction data communicated to the blockchain, andresponsive to the user cryptocurrency wallet public key matching theuser public key included in the transaction data, communicate a signalto the electronic gaming machine, the signal causing the addition of anamount of credit to the credit stored in the memory, the amount ofcredit corresponding to the amount of cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction.
 11. The system as recited in claim 10,wherein the transaction data further comprises an input identificationassociated with a source of the cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction and an output identification associated withthe cryptocurrency transaction.
 12. The system as recited in claim 11,wherein the casino backend server is further configured to use theoutput identification associated with the cryptocurrency as a subsequentinput identification in a subsequent cryptocurrency transactioninvolving the cryptocurrency.
 13. The system as recited in claim 10,further comprising the casino backend server actuating a subsequentcryptocurrency transaction responsive to a withdrawal request receivedfrom the user device, the withdrawal request comprising instructions todeduct a withdrawn amount of credit from the memory and return thewithdrawn amount of credit to the user cryptocurrency wallet in the formof cryptocurrency, wherein the casino backend server communicates asignal to the electronic gaming machine to deduct the withdrawn amountof credit from the credit stored in the memory and generates asubsequent cryptocurrency transaction defined by a subsequenttransaction data comprising a return amount of a cryptocurrency and theuser cryptocurrency wallet public key, wherein the return amount ofcryptocurrency corresponds to the withdrawn amount of credit.
 14. Thesystem as recited in claim 13, wherein the withdrawal request isreceived from the user device.
 15. The system as recited in claim 10,wherein the casino backend server associates the user device with theelectronic gaming machine.
 16. A system as recited in claim 10, whereinthe transaction data further comprises a unique identification of theelectronic gaming machine.
 17. The system as recited in claim 16,wherein the user device is further configured to communicate the uniqueidentification to the casino backend server.
 18. The system as recitedin claim 17, wherein the user cryptocurrency wallet public key isassociated by the casino backend server with the electronic gamingmachine responsive to the casino backend server receiving the uniqueidentification.
 19. A method for enabling secure cryptocurrencytransfers in transactions involving an electronic gaming machine, theelectronic gaming machine including a memory configured to store anamount of credit, the credit being usable to actuate play of a game onthe electronic gaming machine, wherein the electronic gaming machine,the method comprising the steps of: actuating a cryptocurrencytransaction through a user device, the cryptocurrency transaction beingdefined by transaction data communicated to a blockchain, thetransaction data including an amount of a cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction and a user public key; a casino backendserver detecting the transaction data communicated to the blockchain,the casino backend server being in communication with a database and theelectronic gaming machine, the database storing user data including auser cryptocurrency wallet public key; and responsive to the usercryptocurrency wallet public key matching the user public key includedin the transaction data, the casino backend server communicating asignal to the electronic gaming machine, the signal causing an amount ofcredit to be added to the credit stored in the memory, the amount ofcredit corresponding to the amount of cryptocurrency involved in thecryptocurrency transaction.
 20. The method as recited in claim 18,further comprising the step of the user device communicating with theelectronic gaming machine, whereby the casino backend server associateswith the user device with the electronic gaming machine.